Funfair Video Shoot
I always tell myself; probably hearing this from successful film makers and photographers that: "There is no excuse for not trying; you might not be the best or even be the worst among them all, but trying gives you advantage and experience over the ones who never do."
In the quest to accomplish this, I dedicated my last weekend to a funfair video shoot. I won't lie to you it wasn't an easy job forcing myself to go to Kent Park, Ulus for the shoot. For the following main reasons (probably faced by many others who want to try something of their own out there):
1. Am I good enough to do it?: This is one of the greatest fears independent beginner film makers face. We usually question our ability of whether we can go out there and shoot something or if we can do it good enough. This problem mainly occurs due to the fact that we directly compare ourselves we the great directors and DPs (Director of Photography) who have directed and filmed great blockbusters. To counteract this I believe that we just have to go out of that fear zone and make a billion mistakes in the field. Even a child falls a thousand times before he/she can even walk and a couple more hundred while learning to run.
2. Do I have the right equipment?: This might be one of the other problem low budget film makers and photographers face. In this world of great advanced technology, people scare one another into believing that great tech leads to great work. Well that might be partially true but basically that applies to a person who has done a series of trials of whatever he can get his hands to. My advice, go out there, forget about high tech DSLRs or cinema cameras, try use your smartphone if you can't get a better camera. Perfect your shooting experience with the least you have, because the day you get the good one, you will surely be better with a few technical practice. Don't hesitate just because you don't have the best or just hear someone saying that you don't have the right gear. But don't get me wrong: Having good tech will make your work look better visually and will ease your production process but that won't help you recover from a bad story, theme or concept.
3. I am not good at editing skills: Practice makes perfect the elders say :) As I said even the best editors and visual professionals out there have done and still do a billion mistakes (not literally, but yeah they do mistakes). So take your video, try editing it with the simplest software you have and upgrade slowly to the best software out there like Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas or Final Cut Pro X. Watch films see how they do their montage, how they transition through shots, how they use different angles to perfect their story telling. This will help you grasp the montage and editing process. It's never easy, but it's worth it.
4. Will I get an audience?: Hmm! Hard question to answer. I wake up everyday wondering if this site or blog is useful or not, or whether people will check out, read, or appreciate my stuff. I am surely not a professional but I aspire to be one. And I believe that if you don't start taking your own work seriously the people outside would never notice you. It's a risk going out there shooting something knowing that you have no guarantee of any audience. But you would never know if you would have or have not if you never try. Do it, share it, accept critics (as a way to improve), do something good and don't be afraid of taking risks because they induce perfection. And as always tell your friends to help you out in promoting your work, if it is good you will get viewers God willing.
5. What will people think about me: Now this is challenging. The first day I wanted to do photography, I questioned myself of what people around me think about it. Then I just went out of my comfort zone and tried taking more and more photos. I got better at it and people were the least of my concerns. Then came shooting outdoors and unfamiliar places. That outside pressure of people looking at you holding a camera and taking shots or video. It surely can discourage you to just keep your camera inside and do nothing. But surely, its not worth it. People don't stare because your awkward, but because they have this sub-conscious admiration of you pushing the limit and trying harder in the outside world. Something many can not do. They will never stop looking but that should never, never stop you from trying hard.
Well, in short -or probably long ;)- we all have doubts, that's a fact because it is human nature. But don't let them drive you, push you comfort zone, adjust to higher limits and someday you will be successful in whatever scale you plan to be. Yes we have no guarantee of success from the Al-mighty but surely HE sees the efforts of a farmer that he brings rain to produce the crops. Let us go out there shoot and learn to achieve the best. I wish you all great trials and success.
All photos were taken with the Samsung Galaxy S2